Friday, June 20, 2008

Clockwork

Author(s): Douglas Reese
Location: Clarksville, Ohio

"Clockwork"

Written and Directed by Lauren Collyer
Produced by Lauren Collyer and Harvey Weinstein
Score by James Horner
Cinematography by Robert Richardson
Edited by John Hunt

Main Cast

Shia LeBeouf ... Scott Paulson
Patrick Wilson ... Kyle Paulson
Juliette Lewis ... Rena Paulson
Peter Sarsgaard ... Victor Baker
Shirley MacLaine ... Claire Pullman

Tagline: "Everything We Desire is A Few Ticks Away"

Synopsis: What Scott Paulson (LeBeouf) believes made him what he truly was is his second grade teacher, Mr. Haley. Ever since that evening "class", Scott has been cursed with unsatisfying and uncontrollable urges including sneaking out in the middle of the night in hopes of hitching a ride from some horny driver, ignoring the fact that it is the most dangerous thing somebody can possibly do. But he ignores the danger. And ignores the own love his stepmom Rena, feeling that she is too controlling and at times annoying, tries to be the best she can be and capture the love of Rena. Rena's an alcoholic and struggles, but still willingly, tells Scott the stories of her three miscarriages. Rena is haunted my memories of these moments and also how she was brutally raised. Scott knows he is highly cruel to Rena when usually The Wicked Stepmother is taken place, but she delivers her all and tries her best to be as good as a person she can be.

Rena takes Scott to the local flea market on a weekend in hopes of finding Scott a job. Scott flees Rena after a while and runs into a small stall in the building that features a bunch of clocks surrounding the walls. The ticking is something that pulled in Scott almost magnetically. He meets the owner of the store. Victor Baker (Sarsgaard), a nice guy who Scott grows to like a lot after a small conversation. Scott asks if he is hiring and Victor gives him the job. Eventually, Scott is cleaning and hanging clocks as an occupation every Saturday morning. After getting to know Victor sort of better, Scott begins to form a crush on him. Victor has this strange and sweet way to him that makes Scott feel special and for that he desires him. Scott has a picture of Victor and he stares at it all the time, and he is all too eager to get to work at 5am. When he arrives one day to work about thirty minutes early, Scott sees Victor harassing a small girl sexually. Victor doesn't know he seen him and Scott doesn't say anything. Instead, he walks from the job and never returns.

He runs toward "heaven" as he walks down a long narrow nature trail at the public park. A while on the path he runs into a car parked in the woods. And out of it comes a big man who asks Scott if he'll take seventy-five dollars. Scott says okay and they both get into the back of the car. The guy is very mean and ends up raping Scott. Before long, Scott passes out, and finally Scott wakes up in the woods and its dark. Crickets chirp and the air is frosty. He is bleeding everywhere. His nose, mouth, forehead, anus, and arms. He is in pain and he slowly begins to walk home. He is scared and he cries the whole way. He arrives home and sees that it is only 10pm. Rena walks out from the kitchen to see Scott's beaten-up profile and begins to hug him. Usually Scott wouldn't lift his arms up. But this time he did. He embraced Rena. And then falls to his knees in tears. It is silent except for the snuffles Scott makes as, for two solidly powerful minutes, uncut, we see Rena take away Scott's pain as she embraces him in a caring and understanding hug.

What the Press would say:

The chronicles of such a deeply complex character like Scott Paulson is something that would be hard for somebody other than director Lauren Collyer to tackle. She worked in 2006 with Maggie Gyllenhaal in "SherryBaby" and earned Gyllenhaal a Golden Globe nomination. There is not doubt Collyer has led lead actor of "Clockwork" Shia LeBeouf to one - plus a possible Oscar. Feeding us a showcase of bravery and plausibility, LeBeouf takes Scott Paulson and makes him human and brings more depth to the character than anybody ever asked for. "It's a surprisingly authentic and powerfully mesmerizing performance!" says Rolling Stones' Peter Travers. In supporting performances, Patrick Wilson portrays Kyle Paulson with such care and such care and vulnerability that he delivers a short, but real, performance! As the seductive Victor Baker, Peter Sarsgaard brings such humbleness and quirkiness to MacDonald that it is almost unbearable to watch his performance without cringing at how well he creates the annoying man that becomes an object of Scott's lust, and later an object of his own hatred. Actress Juliette Lewis shows a real and emotionally devastated character as Rena Paulson, the psychologically-corrupted character that Kyle has to keep from beating her wrists when something crumbles her. "Lewis is the best thing about this movie!" say Time Magazine. "She's a true marvel!" And the final great performance in the film is Shirley MacLaine who gives a great comical showcase as she gives a six-minute scene where she comes to visit Scott who just happens to remain quiet as she goes on and on about her younger boyfriends. Very funny and cute her performance is. As for Collyer's authentic screenplay, it captures the warmth and soul of its main character and leaves you gripping onto him and praying for him every step of the way. Collyer weaves his life so seamlessly that it blends into becoming one of the best films of the year. Richard Roeper says on 'Ebert & Roeper' that, "Clockwork is an accurate and emotional picture! A true American classic!"

For Your Consideration:
Best Picture
Best Director - Lauren Collyer
Best Original Screenplay
Best Actor - Shia LeBeouf
Best Supporting Actor - Peter Sarsgaard
Best Supporting Actor - Patrick Wilson
Best Supporting Actress - Shirley MacLaine
Best Supporting Actress - Juliette Lewis
Best Film Editing

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